Paper clip dispenser



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1955 v INVENTQR Will/(lift fl. Film/um BY ZuQ. l

' ATT NEY May 6, 1958 w. A. TREIMANN PAPER cup DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1955 r 2,833,028 vFederated M y 195-8 PAPER CLIP DISPENSER William A. Treimann, Denville, N. .1.

Application September 8, 1955, Serial No. 533,224

'7 Claims. (Cl. 29212) The present invention relates to dispensing articles and, more particularly, to a container for storing so-called paper clips provided with means for dispensing the same therefrom.

The present invention is primarily concerned with dispensing paper clips of the common variety which are formed of stiff wire bent into generally oblong inner and outer loops, the inner loop being smaller and having one end spaced from an adjacent end of the outer loop to provide cooperating loop sections for receiving and gripping sheet material therebetween. The ends of the loops may be arcuate, triangular or at right angles to the sides of the loop.

Such clips are usually .kept in a small open box or glass receptacle or in one of the compartments usually provided in desk drawers for various items of stationery, whereby the clips are always handy for use. One of the objections to storing the clips in this manner is that the clips become mixed with other objects, such as pins, thumb tacks, rubber bands or other items placed with the clips to get them out of the way, and also come in contact with shreds of paper, cigarette ashes, pipe tobacco, eraser crumbs and similar undesirable matter. In order to keep the clip receptacle orderly, frequent cleaning thereof is necessary, but the time for such housekeeping in an office never seems to be available. Another annoying circumstance is that the clips do not always land in their intended desk drawer compartment and thus are scattered throughout the desk drawer. It is not uncommon to find-a years supply of clips in places other than the proper compartment therefor upon cleaning out a desk drawer which has been in use for some time. A further disadvantage is that a small supply of clips cannot be carried on the person or in a brief case or the like in a convenient manner.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser for such clips which overcomes the foregoing difficultes and objections.

Another object is to provide such a dispenser which can be operated in a practical and convenient manner.

Another object is to provide such a dispenser which facilitates spreading the adjacent inner and outer loop ends for the insertion of sheet material t'herebetween.

Another object is to provide such a dispenser wherein means are provided for so spreading the clips while they are being dispensed.

Another object is to provide such a dispenser which is readily loaded and reloaded.

Another object is to provide such a dispenser which is simple and durable in construction and can be manufactured and assembled in an economical manner.

A further object is to provide such a dispenser which is compact and pleasing in appearance and can be readily carried about on the person or in a handbag.

Astill further object is to provide such a dispenser which keeps the clips clean and neat at all times.

Other and further objects will .be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the present invention the foregoing objects are generally accomplished by providing a paper clip dispenser comprising a receptacle for storing a stack of clips having aperture means adjacent the upper end thereof through which the uppermost clip of the stack is adapted to be dispensed, and means for urging the stack of clips upwardly. The aperture means is constructed and arranged to facilitate spreading of the clip loops for reception of sheet material and means cooperating with the aperture means may be provided for effecting such spreading. The clips may be dispensed manually or a slidable element may be provided for pushing the clips outwardly.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a dispenser illustrating one embodiment of the present invention and containing a stack of clips.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 on Fig. 1, the clips being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the dispenser, as seen from the dispensing end wall.

Fig.4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the upper Fig. 11 is an end view taken along the line 11-11' on Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10 illustrating an element associated with the dispenser for dispensing the clips, a clip being shown partially ejected and spread.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-13 on Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 1414 on Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the clip element.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side view of the upper end of the dispenser, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating another clip spreading arrangement in its unoperated position.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line 17-17 on Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the upper end of the receptacle and the clip spreading element shown in Figs. 16 and 17.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 9 of the drawings, a paper clip dispenser is shown which essentially comprises a receptacle, so contoured and dimensioned as to store a stack of clips crtherein, and dispensing means associated with the upper end of the receptacle, as will be described in detailhfleinafter.

The upper end of. the receptacle has an opening 21 spreading a cover section 22. An inwardly facing bead or flange 24 at the upper end of the receptacle defines three sides of the opening 21 and cooperates with the cover section 22 to provide means'engageable by the uppermost clip of the stack} f i As shown in Fig. 2, the lower end of the receptacle is open and is provided with a removable closure 25 which facilitates reloading of the dispenser. Preferably, the stack is supported on a presser plate 26, having depending sides 26' slidably mounted within the receptacle; and a spring 27, adapted to expand more than the dimension between the upper and lower ends of the receptacle, is' compressed between the closure 25 and the presser plate and serves to urge the stack of clips up wardly.

As shown in Fig. 1, the clips C, are of the common variety and comprise generally oblong inner and outer loops, theinner loop being smaller and having an end "IE spaced from an adjacent end OE of the outer loop to provide the cooperating loop sections for gripping sheet material therebetween. These clips are arranged in the stack with the loop ends IE and OE all in vertical align ment one above the other and under the cover section 22.

The end' side wall adjacent the cover section 22 is formed with aperture means (Fig. 3) including a horizontal portion 28 contoured and dimensioned to allow the sides OS of the outer loop of the clip to' pass therethrough upon inserting a finger or other means into the receptacle opening 21 and pushing the uppermost clip endwise towards the aperture means.

The dispenser, as described so far, enables clips to be ejected therefrom one by one in a convenient manner. However, the present invention contemplates not only so dispensing the clips, but also spreading apart the loop ends IE and OE to condition the clip for the temp tion of sheet material therebetween while the clip is partially ejected. This may be accomplished by providing the aperture means with a pair of vertical portions 29 at the ends of the horizontal portion 28. For example, an H-shaped aperture (Fig. 3) may be provided wherein the two side portions 29 are the vertical legs and the portion 28 is the horizontal part. In such an arrangement the portions 29 are located and dimensioned to receive thc sides OS of the outer loop of the clip and the portion 28 is located and dimensioned to extend between the sides IS of the inner loop of the clip. Also, the underside of the cover section 22 is formed with a pairof side recesses 30 in registry with the upper'ends of the vertical portions 29 (Figs. 3, 4 and 6), and an intermediate depending portion 31 having a surface in alignment with the upper side of the portion 28.

In Figs. 2, 4 and S, the uppermost clip is shown as it is normally disposed with its loop ends IE and GE facing the horizontal aperture portion 28 to facilitate ejection thereof by pushing the same outwardly through the aperture means. When the clip is partially ejected, as shown in Fig. 7, with the loop ends disposed outwardly of the receptacle, the edge of sheet material M is adapted to be forced upwardly against the underside of the outer loop end to slightly raise this end of the outer loop and spread the loop ends apart for reception of the sheet material. This is made possible by the horizontal aperture portion 28 and the surface of the depending portion 31 which, in conjunction with the pressure eX- '4 tion 31 serve to hold the inner loop end against movement and the lower ends of the aperture portions 29 permit downward movement of the outer loop end.

The foregoing arrangement enables the clips to be spread by both'upward and downward pressure thereon. However, it will be understood that the dispensing aperture and its associated means could be simplified to enable the clip to be spread only by application of pressure in a single direction. For example, if only upward pressure is to be utilized to spread the clips, the lower ends of the vertical aperture portions 29 maybe omitted, whereby the aperture ,is U-shaped. Similarly, if only downward pressure is to be utilized, the upper ends of the portions 29 and the recesses 31 may be omitted whereby the aperture is in the shape of an inverted U.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 10 and 11, another dispenser is shown which is equipped with means for positively spreading the inner and outer loop ends by either upward or downward pressure on the sides of the outer loop. This is accomplished by providing an H-shaped aperture in the receptacle, such as shown in Fig. 11 and perhaps more clearly in Fig. 3, a cover section 22a adjacent this aperture which slops downwardly and inwardly across the uppermost clip, and a member 32 (Fig. 15) which is slidably mounted on the receptacle end side wall across the H-shaped aperture and which has a cross-shaped aperture adapted to cooperate therewith in the manner about to be described.

The cross-shaped aperture has upper and lower vertical portions 34 dimensioned to receive the inner loop of the clip and has a pair of horizontal side portions 35 adapted to receive the outer loop of the clip. In order to facilitate entry of the outer loop end into the side portions the upper and lower surfaces of these side portions converge in the outward direction (Fig. 10) in which the clips are ejected.

In operation, the member 32 is slid to the selected position, upwardly in this example, and the uppermost clip is partially ejected manually therethrough, as seen in Fig. 10, thereby causing the lower surfaces of the portions 35 to engage the sides of the outer loop of the clip and force the outer loop end upwardly, while the inner loop is retained by the horizontal part of the H-shaped recess and is not affected by the slidable member 32 as the inner loop enters the lower vertical portion 34.

Preferably, the slidable member 32 is retained in vertical alignment and selected position by providing the same with an elongate, vertical slot 36 having parallel sides, and providing the wall of the receptacle with a stud 37 extending into the slot and having parallel sides against which the sides of the slot slide. A head of greater width than the slot, such as the head of a screw 38 threaded into the stud, retains the slidable member on the receptacle.

In Figs. .12, 13 and 14, another dispenser is shown which differs from the dispenser just described in that manually operable means are provided for ejecting the clips. In order to accomplish this the receptacle has a bead 40 at opposite sides of the receptacle opening 21 (Fig. '14), and a member 41 has depending side flanges 42 formed with a groove for slidably receiving the head 40. The member 41 further has a manually engageable button or upstanding projection 44 on the top thereof and has a depending finger 45 at its rearward end for engaging the end of the outer loop opposite the end of the clip facing the dispensing aperture. In this arrangement the flange 24 is omitted at the end of the opening and a recess 46 is substituted which receives the finger 45 to en'- able the outer loop end to be positioned in front of the finger (Fig. 12). It will be understood that these ejecting means could be applied to the dispenser shown in Figs. 1 to 9.

The operation of the dispenser shown in Figs. 12 and 13 is otherwise the same as that shown in Figs. 10 and 11. However, in order to illustrate that these dispensers enable the clip loops to be spread by positioning the member 32 both upwardly and downwardly, the member 32 is shown after having been moved downwardly.

In connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. to it will be understood that they can be simplified so that the clip can only be spread by movement of the slidable member in a single direction. For example, where the member 32 is to be moved only upwardly, an inverted U-shaped aperture is substituted for the crossshaped aperture. Similarly, where the member 32 is to be moved only downwardly, a U-shaped aperture is substituted for the H-shaped aperture and an inverted T- shaped aperture is substituted for the cross-shaped aperture. I

In Figs. 16, 17 and 18 still another dispenser is shown, which dispenser is essentially like the dispensers described with reference to Figs. 10 to 15, except that the crossshaped aperture is formed in the receptacle wall and the H-shaped aperture is formed in the slidable member 32. With this reversed arrangement the side portions 35 of the cross-shaped aperture retain the outer sides of the outer loop and the horizontal part of the- H-shaped aperture engages the inner loop to deflect the same and spread the loops, whereby the inner loop is received by the vertical portions 34 of the cross-shaped aperture and the sides of the outer loop extend into the vertical portions of the H-shaped aperture.

Here again the apertures could be simplified for unidirectional operation. For example, where the member 32 is to be moved only upwardly, an inverted U-shaped aperture is substituted for the H-shaped aperture and an inverted T-shaped aperture is substituted for the crossshaped aperture. Similarly, where only downward movement of the member is desired, a U-shaped and a T- shaped aperture are utilized.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, practical clip dispenser which is rugged in construction but yet, small in size and light in weight and can be manufactured and assembled in an economical manner.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matters are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispenser for paper clips having inner and outer loops comprising a receptacle for storing a stack of such clips, said receptacle having a top cover section engagetacle aperture, said outer member having an aperture which has at least two openings to permit the outer loop to pass through one opening and the inner loop to pass through the other opening of said two openings, and means in said outer member for displacing the outer loop from the plane of the inner loop in order to separate the loops of the clip, so that the clip will engage an article on which it is to be placed.

2. A dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein said one opening of said outer member is a horizontal opening larger than the other opening and is offset from a plane determined by the bottom of the cover, and said outer member also has a camming surface to deflect the outer loop of the clip so as to displace it out of the plane of the inner loop of the clip and thereby pass said outer loop through the larger horizontal opening of the member.

3. A dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein adjustable means are provided for connecting said outer member to said receptacle and wherein the aperture in said outer member is constituted by two vertically slotted portions connected by a horizontal groove so that the outer member can be adjustably moved to displace relatively the outer loop from the inner loop in order for the clip to be placed on an article.

4. A dispenser in accordance with claim 3, wherein said adjustable means include a slot in said outer member having parallel sides, a boss on said receptacle having parallel sides in engagement with said parallel sides of said slot, and a head on said boss of greater width than said slot for holding said member on said receptacle in slidable relation therewith.

5. A dispenser in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cover section has an opening that extends and exposes'only a portion of the uppermost clip, and wherein a member is slidably mounted at the upper end of said receptacle, said slidable member having a depending projection for engaging the uppermost clip and pushing the same through said receptacle aperture.

6. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein said receptacle is formed with stops for limiting the movement of said slidable member.

able by the uppermost clip, the bottom surface of said cover section having a recess therein so shaped that the outer loop of the clip may be displaced therein, said receptacle having an aperture at one side adjacent its upper end through which the uppermost clip is adapted to be disposed endwise, said receptacle aperture being of such size as to permit the outer loop of the clip to be displaced out of the plane of the inner loop, an outer member attached to said receptacle adjacent said recep- 7. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein said receptacle is formed with a bead at opposite outer side walls adjacent the top of said receptacle and adjacent said top opening and wherein said slidable member has a pair of depending side flanges each formed with a recess for receiving one of said beads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 615,018 Glass Nov. 29, 1898 2,502,248 COltOH et al. Mar. 28, 1950 2,557,323 Testi June 19, 1951 2,641,051 Vick June 9, 1953 2,653,704 Nelson Sept. 29, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 283,448 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1952 

